by Dawning, Dee
"You have. Any friend of Ginger is a friend of mine. Now, what was your second question?"
"Despite the fact that your mind is Brad's—"
"Wrong."
"Your mind isn't Brad's?"
"Yes, but that's only part of it. I'm Brad in every way in Ginger's shell. Being, spirit, soul, core, essence—whatever you want to call it, all of me, including my mind is in Ginger's body. And so it is with Ginger, in my shell."
"I think I get it. Anyway, you and Brad/Ginger seem so comfortable together. I know it's only been five days, but are you falling in love with Brad?"
"I don't know. If feeling like my life began when I woke up and found out I was Ginger, then yes, I could be. But truly, with so much happening, it's impossible to tell."
~ * * ~
"See she loves him. Venus says she does, too. And she thinks Brad loves her."
"You brought Venus into this?"
"She's the 'Advocate of Love'."
"Yes, but I didn't want to bring anyone else into this until we finalize things."
"You don't want an expert's opinion until after you finalize the arrangement? Excuse me ma'am, but isn't that putting the horse behind the cart?"
I suppose, but I do wish—"
"Don't worry ma'am, I swore Venus to secrecy."
"Let's hope she keeps quiet. In the meantime, I have an idea."
"Oh. What's that sir…I mean ma'am?"
"You'll see, Carpenter. You'll see."
~ * * ~
"Sorry, I'm late, girls." I slid in and kissed Ginger. "I had a big deal going that I had to close, before I could leave."
Ginger wanted to know more, "Oh yeah, who with?"
I placed the napkin on my lap. "Some mutual fund manager named Ernest McGivens. I didn't know him, but he seemed to know me."
Ginger, rolled her eyes. "Well, you better get to know him. He was one of my best clients."
"Well at least he wasn't one of my best customers when I used to be you, like that Carlson guy."
Amber's mouth fell open. "One of Ginger's clients is also one of yours?"
Ginger and I both nodded
"Oh, how funny."
"I'm going get a list of my clients together for Brad. Don't be surprised if one or two of your johns pop up."
Amber grinned. "Let me see it when… Quiet, here comes the waitress.
The waitress set down a bun-less burger and iced tea in front of Ginger and refilled Amber's iced tea. "Hi, what can I get you?"
"I'll have a turkey club on whole wheat with cottage cheese and iced tea."
She picked up the last menu. "Coming right up."
When she left, I turned to the girls. "Have I missed anything?"
"Not really. I was just re-acquainting myself with my roommate and best friend since my first year of college, who, like you is a new person inside." Amber leaned forward and gazed at me. "Ginger did tell me something interesting though."
"What?"
"She claims, it wasn't just your mind that switched bodies."
I stared at her. "No! Tell me more."
"She said that your whole essence, your whole being changed places."
I nodded. "That's true. We don't know what happened, but I feel like the entirety of me moved into Brad's body. Our bodies must be independent because it was like moving out of one house, furniture and all, into another."
Ginger chirped one of her short, hysterical sounding laughs. "That's a great analogy. I don't know what Ginger thinks of her new abode, but I moved out of an upper middleclass townhouse into…into…"
"Camelot?" Amber suggested.
"Close, a Hempstead mansion."
I laughed. "Well my move wasn't quite so grandiose. It was more pedestrian, like moving from Atlantic Avenue to Marvin Gardens. The house itself wasn't an improvement, but in real estate, as they say, location is everything, and baby, my new house has location in spades."
"Did you move? Atlantic Avenue, Marvin Gardens, Hempstead, Camelot. What're you all talking about?"
We all glanced up at the new voice, and there stood Brad's buddy from the office, Lew, holding a Heinekens in one hand and a Station Burger and fries basket in the other.
Amber checked Lew out in a way that indicated she found him interesting and I couldn't blame her. Lew was a bit of a hunk. Dark hair, brooding brown eyes, full lips and dimples. She waved a hand. "Oh, we're just talking philosophy."
In return, Lew couldn't take his eyes off her. "Philosophy? It sounded more like Real Estate 101 to me." Lew set his beer on the table and held his hand out to Amber. "Hi, we haven't met. I'm Lew Caruso, Brad's best buddy."
~ * * ~
Flashing what I hoped was a friendly if seductive, 'check me out smile', I shook Lew's hand and made room for him in one motion. "My pleasure, Amber Lane, Ginger's best buddy. Would you like to join us?"
"I'd love to." Setting his burger and beer down Lew slid in.
Twisting a curl of my auburn hair, I angled toward him. "You're not married, are you?"
He grinned. "Why? Are you interested?"
God, he's cute…and forward. I snickered. "You're sitting next to me, aren't you?"
His smile was lovable. "Ah-huh and lovin' it." He chewed on a fry. "How about you? Are you married or involved?"
I shook my head. "Nope, not married, engaged or going with anyone. I do see about a dozen men on a regular basis, but I'm not serious about any of them."
Lew dipped his head in obvious surprise. "Only a dozen? As gorgeous as you are, I suppose it's not surprising."
"Why thank you." I placed my hand over his. "You really think I'm gorgeous?"
"Is the moon round, is the Empire State Building tall, are the Simpsons yellow?"
I laughed. "And you're funny. Is that a yes?"
"Yes. You're gorgeous and more."
A tingly thrill ran through me as he took my hand in both of his. "Words like dazzling, stunning, spectacular, even magical come to mind when I look at you."
I must have liked his touch, because I felt saddened when he reclaimed his hands to finish eating. I glanced at Brad who smiled, then back at Lew. "You know, you and Brad look a lot alike. Are you related?"
After taking a bite of his hamburger, Lew answered while chewing, "We do, but we're not related," he swallowed, "the fact is, I'm obviously better looking."
Brad flashed an evil eye at Lew. "Hey, hey! I heard that." He nudged Ginger's upper arm. "Sweetheart! Who's better looking Lew or me?"
Ginger laughed. "Lew is easy on the eyes."
Lew faked like he was bowing. "Thank you. Thank you."
"But…" Ginger pursed her lips. "Since you're my boyfriend, you must be better looking."
Brad kissed her cheek. "Thank you, darling, for your glowing, unbiased opinion."
"Beside, you're my boss."
Brad frowned at her.
Lew chuckled and bit into his burger.
I took a quick bite of my salad. "So, how long have you known Brad?"
"About five years. You know what would be so cool?"
"I give?"
"Since your best friend is going with my best friend, you should go out with your best friend's boyfriend's best friend, who happens to be me."
I laughed. "Makes sense to me. If we were to go out, where would we go?"
He shrugged. "We could go to some innocuous place to start, like a movie."
I tittered. "I wouldn't mind seeing Miami Blues."
Brad stood up. "It's been fun, but Ginger and I need to get back. If you want, I could tell Wally you went home sick. That way you and Amber could catch a matinee of Miami Blues."
I stiffened as Lew set his hand on my thigh. "There, see we could go to the movie right now."
I did want to go, but this was too fast. He would ask questions to which I had no answers. Wouldn't he die if he knew what I do—what I am? "I don't think so. This is too quick. Here, I'll give you my phone number and email address. That way we could stay in touch and get to know ea
ch other." I scribbled my name, number and email address on a napkin.
Lew folded it and stuffed it in a jacket pocket.
Brad asked Lew, "Are you coming?"
"You go ahead. I'll be along in a couple minutes."
But Lew didn't go back to work. We had a drink. Lew was charming and funny. We truly enjoyed each other's company so Lew called his boss and made an excuse for not returning to work. Lew bought another drink and then another. He wasn't budging and that was fine with me.
Chapter Ten
We hustled across the street and strode into the main lobby. One of the six elevator doors stood open, but as we approached, the doors began to close, so I yelled, "Hold it," which seemed to work because the doors stopped and reversed direction. I grabbed Ginger's hand. "C'mon." We hurried into the elevator and I said, "Thanks."
"You’re welcome."
The voice sounded familiar and when I glanced left who should be at the elevator's controls but Milton Grimes—the big boss. "Good afternoon Brad." He spoke in my direction, but he was all eyes for Ginger.
"Hello Milt. Milt, this is my secretary, I told you about, Ginger Allen."
Grimes cast a smarmy smile. "Well, hello." He held his hand out. "I'm Milton Grimes, I run this place."
Ginger shook his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Grimes."
He snickered, "Milt, call me Milt, please." He looked back to me. "You were right. She is a pretty one."
"Yes, she is."
"Oh, Milt," Ginger purred.
"Floor?"
He asked her, but I reactively said, "Thirty-four."
Milt pushed the button, re-pushed his floor and we soon ascended with roller coaster speed that tended to turn my stomach.
The elevator slowed and stopped at the 34th floor. When the doors parted, Ginger said, "I'm glad I met you, Milt," before she exited.
I hitched my head, said, "See you later," and followed.
Milt held the doors open and leaned into the doorway. "Nice meeting you, Ginger."
Ginger responded. "Likewise."
He flashed his smarmy smile. "And welcome to the company."
"Thank you."
As the elevator doors closed, Ginger took my arm and said, under her breath, "He may be the boss, but I always thought he was strange. Now, from a female perspective, he's kind of creepy."
"I agree."
~ * * ~
As Mr. Grimes arrived back at his office he stepped up to his secretary's desk. "Yes, Mr. Grimes?"
Grace, would you call Mr. Boyd in Human Resources and have him send up a duplicate file of Ginger Allen? She's a brand new employee who started today."
She wrote the name on a scratch pad. "Anything else, sir?"
"Just that I would like it today, if possible."
"As you wish, sir."
~ * * ~
After lunch, following a trip to the 33rd floor and forty-five minute search, I located the list of clients Brad requested. Pleased, I sashayed into Brad's office. "Here's the list of my clients you asked for this morning, Dear."
Brad smiled at me, waggled his eyebrows and grabbed the folder. "Thank you." He opened it and perused the list. "Nope, none of these were clients."
"I have someone in statistics working on a list of company clients."
Brad raised an eyebrow. "How did you manage that?"
"Just lucky, I guess."
Brad snickered. "Is this statistician, a guy?"
I cast a coy, demur smile. It's so cool being a desirable woman. "Why Bradley Fairchild, however did you guess?"
He laughed. "Just a hunch."
I giggled and batted my lashes. "Why ask a woman when men are so eager to help?"
"True."
I started to leave and he said, "Hold on." He reached in his desk and pulled out another file. "This is a list of clients of Joe Schnedley, the guy whose place I'm taking, which was sent via inter-company mail while we were at lunch."
"Yes."
He opened the file and pointed to a name. "I think Bryan Ross is a former regular of Amber's." He looked at me. "I'll bet there're even more in the company client list."
I shrugged and said, "I wouldn't be surprised," as I left.
~ * * ~
At four o'clock, Mr. Grimes secretary, Grace strode up to his desk with a manila file in her hand. "Here you are Mr. Grimes. This is the employment file you had me request from Mr. Boyd."
He took the offered file and dismissed her. "Thank you Grace. Why don't you take the rest of the day off?"
Grace smiled. "Oh, thank you, sir. I'll see you later."
As soon as she left, he opened the file and scanned the information. Name: Ginger Megan Allen, Age: 26, Address: 56 E. 79th Street, Manhattan. Only a mile from here, in the middle of the high rent district. How can she afford that?
Education: Graduated from Columbia U, magna cum laude, with a degree in business administration three years ago. Hmm. Beauty and brains. Still, that doesn't explain how she lives in the middle of the most expensive part of the most expensive city in the world.
Employment Experience: Academy Modeling & Acting Agency, on call for modeling and acting assignments. On call? He frowned and scratched his head. That still doesn't explain how. He picked up the handset of his phone and dialed the Bayside Chief of Security. "Lancaster."
"Ray, this is Grimes."
"Yes Boss. What can I do for you?"
"I need you to run a check on someone."
~ * * ~
I watched in full panic as some of my Bayside co-workers began to drift in. I pulled my arm from around Amber and glanced at my watch—five-thirty! Had we spent all afternoon here?
Since I told Wally I was sick and going home, I didn't want to be seen so I grabbed Amber's hand and pulled her out of the booth. "We need to go." Keeping my back to everyone, I told her, "People are coming in from work and I'm supposed to be sick."
Amber nodded. She slipped between me and my colleagues and with my face buried in her hair she led me out to the street.
"Whew! Thanks so much. That was close."
"Think nothing of it. It wouldn't do for a possible boyfriend to be unemployed, would it?"
When the implications of what Amber said, soaked in, I stopped and turned. Gazing into her mesmerizing eyes, I bellowed, "Boyfriend?"
Face to face, she smiled. "Not so loud."
With scores of people circling around us, I looped my arms around her and pulled her so close, her melon sized breasts squeezed against my chest. Amber's gardenia based scent wafted through my brain, closing out everything around us. "You smell like a flower garden after an April shower."
Her gaze shifted from side to side. "Thanks. You know lots of people are watching us."
"Do you care?"
She shrugged. "Not if you don't."
My gaze locked on her astounding, greenish-blue eyes. Dare I try to kiss her?
Amber simplified my decision. After closing her eyes she leaned in with parted lips. Her hands grasped my face and directed my lips to hers. When they touched, sparks flew and a sudden flush passed through my body, and terminated between my legs. Shivers flowed through me when my tongue passed through her lips and probed the soft, fleshy walls and hard, white barrier of her mouth.
Breathless we separated. "Do you want me to be your boyfriend?"
"Maybe." She took my hand and we began to walk. "What shall we do now?"
I chuckled at my wicked thought. "We could go to my apartment and get naked like boyfriends and girlfriends do."
Barely audible, she mumbled, "Or mine." She rested her head on my shoulder. "It's too soon. Besides I said possible boyfriend. It's really up to you?"
"How so?"
"We have to talk. You know what. I'm hungry, let's talk over dinner."
~ * * ~
To celebrate our first successful day together on the job, I decided to celebrate the occasion by taking my lovely new secretary/girlfriend/roommate to my favorite Italian Restaurant, Milano's Trat
toria Venezia. I'd been dying to wear that epitome of classy masculinity—a tuxedo—and since this was a special occasion, I dressed in my—formerly Brad's—tux, sans the cummerbund and set it off with an unconventional red bow tie.
Ginger, refusing to let me see her until she was finished, locked herself in the bathroom. After she'd been in there for what seemed like forever, I knocked on the door. "You better hurry, Sweets, our reservation is for seven-thirty and it's ten after."
"Okay, I think I'm ready. Close your eyes, I'm coming out."
Humoring her, I shut my eyes.
"You can open them now."
The new Ginger was stunning. I say new, because she made a few subtle changes, which distinguished her from the original one—me.
Frozen in a model-like pose, she asked, "Is your mouth open because you like or hate?"
For starters, at least on this occasion, her long blond hair, which I normally wore down, was up, curly and held in place with a rhinestone hairpiece. Her glimmering, chiffon cocktail dress looked darling on her, and the dress's two-tone, lavender and purple tones carried over into her choice of lipstick and eyeshadow. From her curly do, to her three inch heel silver sandals, Ginger was dazzling. "Love would be more fitting. I love the way you look." I smiled when my five day old penis stirred at the sight of her. "In fact I'm getting hard staring at you at the thought leisurely removing your attire and—"
~ * * ~
Giggling I picked my wrap. "Down boy, down. I'm really looking forward to our first real date, so we better go." She sidled up, took my arm and kissed my cheek. "I promise you can remove my attire when we get back. Then you can do whatever you want with me."
Brad waggled his brow and said, "I'll keep that in mind," as we headed to the front door.
We got in the elevator and Brad pushed Lobby. "You know what I think would be really neat."
"No telling."
"Making love in here, with you."
For a second a tinge of excitement surged through me as the old Aerosmith song, Love in an Elevator, played in my mind. But then I squashed it. "Why would you want to do it here, when we have a comfy king sized bed in the condo?"
"It would be fun. Besides in the throes of passion, who thinks of comfort?"